Hancock Concert Series Presents Herr Beethoven and His Cellists

The Hancock Concert Series continues on Sunday, April 9th with Herr Beethoven and His Cellists, a concert featuring cellists Cherry Kim, and Scott Thomas Lesser, with Ai-Ying Chiu at the piano.

Creativity of an artist is often inspired through collaboration. The Duport brothers, Bernhard Romberg, and Anton Kraft were leading cellists, composers and pedagogues of their time. Their artistry and collaboration inspired Beethoven to reconsider the cello’s capabilities and to write major works for this instrument. This concert will explore the ingenuity of Beethoven’s Sonatas for Piano and Cello from each of his three periods that still leaves us marveled almost two centuries later paired with selected works by Duport, Romberg and Kraft.
The featured performers are all part of the Boston area’s incredibly talented pool of musicians. Cherry Kim is a cellist recognized for her heartfelt musicianship and artistry. After five years of study and winning several competition awards, she made her first concerto debut performing the Schumann Cello Concerto with the Plano Symphony Orchestra in 2000. Other solo appearances include performing the Haydn C major Concerto with the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra and the Dvorak Concerto with Fall River Symphony. She recorded the soundtrack for Breaking the Code for the Underground Railway Theater, collaborated with renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin, and performed with the Artists of the Royal Conservatory Ensemble in the “Music in Exile” concert which was broadcasted nationwide in Canada.

Scott Thomas Lesser is an active performer and teacher in the Greater Boston area. He is Principal Cellist of Cape Ann Symphony and a member of the Orchestra of Indian Hill and Atlantic Symphony, where he has played Acting Principal in concerts this season. He recently completed seven years as Principal with the Boston Civic Symphony.

Ai-Ying has been a finalist and award recipient at many International Competitions such as the Russian Music Piano Competition, Seattle Piano Competition, Chinese International Piano Competition, Steinway Piano Competition, Arlington Young Artist Competition, etc. She has been invited to perform in numerous important concert halls in Russia, France, Germany, Italy, U.S.A., Canada and Taiwan. This includes solo performances at the Rachmaninoff Concert Hall in Tambov, Russia, The Town Hall in NYC, and Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya in Seattle, among others. As a pianist, Ms. Chiu actively works with other musicians and artists. She is the founding member of Voyage Piano Trio and Kaohsiung Chamber Music Ensemble.

The concert is presented as part of the 6th Annual Hancock Concert Series, which features a wide array of music over the course of 12 concerts this season. The concerts take place in the sanctuary of Hancock Church, 1912 Massachusetts Ave on the Battle Green in Lexington. Admission is a suggested donation of $15, with all encouraged to attend regardless of ability to donate. Free parking is available behind the church and the church is fully handicap accessible.

Join Us!

Morning Worship
February 18, 2018
10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Paul and Barbara preach together on Mark 1:9-15No Worship @ the Well this SundayShared Bread, Shared Lives
5:00 p.m. in the Chapel
Our alternative, informal, and interactive service features music from our River Rock Band. Communion is celebrated each week and joys and concerns are shared.